In her State of the City speech, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms recognized Carolyn Jackson as a great example of how the Heritage Owner-Occupied Rehab program has helped keep longtime residents in their homes.

“Thanks to the Owner-Occupied Rehab Program, Mrs. Jackson will now be able to remain in the house she has called home for more than four decades,” said Mayor Bottoms. “She has not quit on Atlanta, and the City of Atlanta has not quit on her.”

Mrs. Jackson has lived in her southwest Atlanta home for more than four decades. She is the widow of a military veteran and worked at Grady Hospital for thirty as years as a Certified Nursing Assistance specializing in adolescent clinical care.

“I’m totally satisfied,” said Mrs. Jackson when asked about her experience with the program. “I’m just thankful I was picked to participate in the program.”

As a recipient of a forgivable Heritage Owner Occupied Rehab loan, she has been able to afford critical health and safety repairs on her home. She had plenty of necessary work done, including work on her roof, new gutters, and new paint on the exterior of her home.

Here is the portion of the State of the City remarks about Mrs. Jackson: 

Gentrification is no justification for pushing people out of neighborhoods who've been there for decades – people like Carolyn Jackson.

Mrs. Jackson has lived in her home in Southwest Atlanta for 42 years.

She lost her husband when he was just 33 years old.

She raised two children on her own, working at Grady Hospital as a Certified Nursing Assistant for 30
years.

She is currently caring for her 15-year-old grandson.

Like many seniors, she’s found it challenging to keep up with major home repairs.

Last year, Invest Atlanta established the Owner-Occupied Rehab Program to help people like Mrs.
Jackson.

Through forgivable loans, Mrs. Jackson fixed her roof and repaired leaks throughout her house.

Thanks to the Owner-Occupied Rehab Program, Mrs. Jackson will now be able to remain in the house she has called home for more than four decades.

She has not quit on Atlanta, and the City of Atlanta has not quit on her.

The Heritage ORR Program is a joint effort from partners including Invest Atlanta, City of Atlanta, the Atlanta Housing Authority, Choice Atlanta, Synergy Real Estate, and several other organizations, implemented the program to help lower-income residents remain in their homes and avoid displacement. 

Mayor Bottoms reiterated her pledge to leverage $1 billion dollars towards housing affordability and her goal to produce and preserve 20,000 units of affordable housing within the City of Atlanta by 2026.